Soul great Lou Rawls is in trouble with yet another alleged mistress - who is suing him for $12 million (GBP7.5 million) for breaching an oral agreement.

MARGARET SCHAFFER claims she met the YOU'RE GONNA MISS MY LOVING singer in 1998, when she and Rawls made "an oral agreement of co-habitation".

She alleges he told her his marriage was over but he didn't want to get divorced for financial reasons, and he insisted she give up her career as a produce broker in Washington DC to move to Los Angeles and become his professional and personal partner.

In court papers filed in Los Angeles, Schaffer claims her services included, "ironing, purchasing clothes and providing meals at odd hours of the night, and to alleviate Lou's frequent back aches."

But when Rawls terminated his association with Schaffer, she chose to get even for four years of being his mistress.

However, Rawls is denying her claims. His manager, DAVID BROKAW, says, "That would be an interesting circumstance since Mr Rawls was living in his house of many years with his wife of many years."

Rawls was caught up in another scandal in January (03) when he was arrested in New Mexico after another alleged mistress claimed he beat her in a fight. His wife CECI has also announced she plans to divorce the soul man.

26/06/2003 09:16